Lemonaide Music AI launches the “Collab Club” platform to empower creators and make music accessible globally, while claiming to be ethical and human-centric.
Collab Club offers virtual producers powered by artificial intelligence (AI) models, which Lemonaide claims to be ethical and “artist-first.” These models are trained using the works of several top producers, including KXVI, Kato On The Track, Mantra, and DJ Pain 1.
The tool allows producers to upload their music catalogs to train custom AI models, enabling it to generate loops that imitate each producer’s personal style.
The AI is trained on data voluntarily contributed by users, ensuring artists maintain control over their work and receive appropriate compensation. This approach addresses ethical concerns surrounding AI in music, which may distinguish Lemonaide from competitors.
“All AI models are massive sets of data. We’re taking the bet that people don’t just want to work with an AI model; they want to work with creative materials and creative people,” said Michael “MJ” Jacob, founder of Lemonaide and hip-hop artist. “Lemonaide Collab Club connects creators with some of today’s best producers—building a strong creative community while giving artists agency in the AI space.”
In 2023, Lemonaide formed a strategic alliance with Beatstars, where Lil Nas X bought a $30 beat he used in ‘Old Town Road’. The mentioned producers are part of the well-known beats buy-and-sell platform, which now has 10 million creators contributing to its platform and being utilized in recent tracks like 310babii’s ‘Soak City’, Bossman Dlow’s ‘Get in with Me’, and Yng Lvcas and Peso Pluma’s ‘La Bebe: Remix’.
Lemonaide’s approach may serve as a model for other companies to follow. By solidifying their stance on artist rights, they aim to alleviate fears surrounding AI’s impact on the music industry and human creativity.
This movement toward a human-centric approach in AI development is growing across the creative industry, reflecting a recognition of the need to align technology with human values and experiences.
In March 2024, more than 50 global music companies, including Roland Corporation and Universal Music Group (UMG), united for the “Principles for Music Creation with AI,” aiming to responsibly manage AI’s impact on music creation while preserving human creativity.
These principles seek to establish ethical guidelines for AI use in the music industry, with support from major industry players like BandLab Technologies and Splice. They emphasize transparency, respect for human-created works, and collaboration between technology and human artistry.
With Collab Club at the forefront, Jacob expressed his hope that Lemonaide would inspire young creators to discover joy in music creation.
“We are focused on doing it the right way. Collab Club is our next step in ensuring that artists have their own say and agency over the use of their data,” added Anirudh Mani, co-founder and chief scientific officer of Lemonaide.
